History

If you were growing up in Winton 100 years ago the area would have looked somewhat different to how it looks now. The landscape was a great deal greener, had fewer houses, and opened up to farmland in Moordown. There were gravel pits in Winton where we now have houses in the area around Ripon Road and Portland Road and trams trundled up and down Wimborne Road. There has been a school in existence in Winton ever since 1877 which started its life with just 40 pupils. Known as the Winton British School it was housed in rooms underneath the Winton Congregational Church on Peter’s Hill. However with the area expanding the existing school could not accommodate the growing population. It was in 1911 that Winton and Moordown Boys’ School was formed with the opening of the new Winton and Moordown Council Schools. The new school was built (on the site later to be named Coronation Avenue) to house the increasing amount of young people requiring an education. The building was officially opened on 14th January 1911 by the Mayor of Bournemouth Alderman C Hunt (the same day as the opening of Dean Court football ground). This included separate buildings for the Infants’, Boys’ and Girls’ Schools catering for 1250 children. This was a time of generally improving standards, amenities and equipment; students were impressed with the facilities such as running hot water and heating. It was known as being a strict school under the watchful eye of the Headmaster Mr Hawkes, but they taught the students to have confidence in themselves. In 1957 there was a reorganisation of the schools and it was renamed Winton Secondary Boy’s School. By 1995 we had once again outgrown the building and we moved to our current site on Winton Way and became known as Winton School. Celebrations will take place later in the year, and if you have a father, uncle or grandfather who attended school in Winton, maybe they would like to get in touch and be part of this time of celebration and reflection. Any stories, photos or contributions can be sent to Mrs Fendley. afendley@waamc.co.uk

Information courtesy of Winton Arts & Media School and Winton Area Forum.